Keith’s mother Grace was laid to rest with her baby daughter, Grace Elizabeth in the St. Thomas Cemetery December 26, 1911.

The photo of Grace was damaged and almost burned in a fire. I do not have a creation date. It was in her daughter Jean’s scrapbook loaned to me by my cousin, a great-granddaughter of Grace’s.

This cemetery is actually several cemeteries grouped together: American Legion, Forest Hill Cemetery and St. Thomas Cemetery. Now I know why I have confusing information about my family and where they are buried.

The link below is to these cemeteries. There is a map of the entire grouping of cemeteries and then a link a to a map to show the location of the cemetery near the town of International Falls. The cemeteries are southeast of town. On the top right is a “Find a Loved One” search feature. All this is new and was not there when I visited in 2000 and 2001. If you Google this cemetery you need to use the Forest Hill name to find it:

There is a family plot in the cemetery, dominated by a large monument with the name McDonald inscribed (see posted dated Feb. 6, 2010). My cousin Mary McDonald Louiseau told me that it was probably purchased by Archibald McDonald and his son Jack. The McDonald family plot is in Section E in the St. Thomas Cemetery to the east. You cannot miss the large monument.

Grace is not alone in this plot. She shares it with Archibald McDonald and Mary McDonald, Keith’s grandparents. Their sons and Ronald’s brothers: John (Jack) and his wife Sarah Burns McDonald. Another brother Alexander McDonald. Gil and Mary McDonald Louiseau are also buried in this plot. Mary was John (Jack)’s and Sarah’s daughter. There is a Baby Emma also John (Jack) and Sarah’s child. The unnamed baby is Grace Elizabeth.

As the daughter of Keith, I visited International Falls and have stood at the graveside of my grandmother and the others and documented this cemetery. There is the main stone.

Grace's Tombstone

There is another stone above Grace’s:

Additional Stone

The baby is buried with her. It reads

“We long for the touch of the vanished hand

or the sound of voice that is still.”

The notation in the Koochiching County Courthouse Vital records notes the child as “Babe McDonald.” Later I learned from Vivian’s (oldest daughter) baby book featured in a previous post, June 6, 2010, on the last pages that the child was named “Grace Elizabeth.”

Ronald apparently was absent from his duties as Commissioner at this time for an article appears on the front page of the International Falls Press December 28, 1911, “Commissioner Proceedings.” It is just below the arrow on the page.

Ronald Absent 1911

One day I was talking to my Aunt Eddie (Ronald and Grace’s daughter) and she mentioned that Grace died at Christmas and it did not have the same meaning to her. Eddie was very young when it happened. She was born in March of 1907 which means she was 4 plus years old and it is difficult to say if she remembered her mother? Baby brother Keith of course was only 18 months old!

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About BJ MacDonald

Interested in travel, really into genealogy and researching my family history, classic novels and movies, fantasy and science fiction, photography, history and more...
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Things to Ponder!

The header photo is of the St. Alphonsus Catholic Church and Cemetery in Chapeau, Quebec.

The OGS (Ontario Genealogical Society) Online Newsletter for October 15, 2016 has a great article on the Toronto Library where their collection has been moved to. How to access it and the documents. OGS was given a tour of the new facilities. I was at the North York on my trip to Canada and that is now closed with the collection moved to the main library. They don't discuss parking but that could be an issue.

It is with sadness I report that the Chanute Air Museum is closing for good. I am so glad I visited this museum on the base where my Dad, Keith, spent his time learning his craft of airplane mechanic. August 12, 2016